Once a talent show reject, ‘Idol’ winner Maddie Poppe returns to open the Iowa State Fair

Seven years ago Maddie Poppe competed in the Iowa State Fair Bill Riley Talent Search and didn't make it past the first round.
Kelsey Kremer, kkremer@dmreg.com

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Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, sings the national anthem during the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines. (Photo: Kelsey Kremer/The Register)Buy Photo

It wasn’t too long ago that Maddie Poppe nervously stepped up to a microphone at the Iowa State Fair.

A 14-year-old representing her native Butler County, Poppe and her sister got behind a guitar and tried their luck at the Bill Riley Talent Search, a fair tradition.

It’d be a short-lived run. Judges cut the duo after the first round.

“We weren’t ready and I definitely wasn’t ready,” Poppe recalled in an interview with the Register. “I was so young and had just started out.”

Oh, how things have changed.

The 2018 “American Idol” winner and Clarksville native appeared Thursday at the Iowa State Fair opening ceremony to sign autographs, sing the National Anthem and cut a ceremonial ribbon alongside Gov. Kim Reynolds.

She performed, however briefly, for the first time in her home state since bringing home top prize in the ABC reality talent contest. Her voice filled the newly-renovated Grandstand plaza and spilled down Grand Avenue.

Or, as Eddie Hatfield, local radio personality and the morning’s emcee said on stage: “It’s always great to start the fair with goosebumps, isn’t it?”

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Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, sings the national anthem during the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, signs autographs after attending the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, signs autographs after attending the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Caleb Lee Hutchinson, American Idol contestant, Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, stands on stage with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds during the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, cut the ribbon of the updated Iowa State Fair grandstand during the opening ceremonies for the state fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, sings the national anthem during the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, stands on stage with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds during the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, gives an interview after attending the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, gives an interview after attending the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, gives an interview after attending the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, stands on stage with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds during the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, stands on stage with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds during the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, signs autographs after attending the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, sings the national anthem during the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

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Poppe’s life changed drastically since “Idol” success rocket-launched her life from coffee shops and farmers' market corners to radio interviews in the morning and headlining shows in theaters at night.

Moments like Thursday morning are an “honor” for the 20-year-old, she said.

“It’s weird being in the same place as you were five years ago but your life being different,” Poppe said. “A different feeling, but it brings back a lot of memories.”

It’s wasn’t an easy ask, either, to have Poppe in Des Moines, holding a pair of unnaturally large scissors, kicking off 11 days of deep-fried entertainment.

She wrapped up a gig Wednesday night in Oklahoma, hopped on an overnight plane and appeared in Iowa Thursday morning ahead of a scheduled evening show at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City.

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Maddie Poppe talks about life on tour.
Kelsey Kremer, kkremer@dmreg.com

“It’s been so much fun experiencing this for the first time all together but I like to be at home,” Poppe said, smiling. “I like the comfort of your own bed, your own shower. Those things are nice, too.”

Caleb Lee Hutchinson, American Idol contestant, Maddie Poppe, winner of season 16 of American Idol and Iowa native, stands on stage with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds during the opening ceremonies for the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 9, 2018, in Des Moines. (Photo: Kelsey Kremer/The Register)

Poppe wraps the “Idol” tour in September and returns to Iowa for a pair of sold-out shows before hitting the studio in Los Angeles and Nashville for co-writing sessions.

She’s tight-lipped on who’ll be writing with her: “Nothing is set in stone yet but there (are) a lot of cool ideas floating around.”

But the indie-pop songwriter knows she wants it to be an album that appeals to her audience — both the passionate, young following she’s gained since “Idol” and their parents.

Maddie Poppe of Clarskville, Iowa, looks over at Caleb Lee Hutchinson Monday, May 21, 2018, before Ryan Seacrest announces Poppe as the winner during the "American Idol" finale in Los Angeles. Hutchinson announced the two were dating live during the show.
Mitch Haaseth, ABC

Maddie Poppe of Clarskville, Iowa, gets a kiss from Caleb Lee Hutchinson Monday, May 21, 2018, after Ryan Seacrest announces Poppe as the winner during the "American Idol" finale in Los Angeles. Hutchinson announced the two were dating live during the show.
Mitch Haaseth, ABC

Maddie Poppe of Clarskville, Iowa, gets a kiss from Caleb Lee Hutchinson Monday, May 21, 2018, after Ryan Seacrest announces Poppe as the winner during the "American Idol" finale in Los Angeles. Hutchinson announced the two were dating live during the show.
Eric McCandless, ABC

Maddie Poppe of Clarskville, Iowa, hugs fellow finalist Caleb Lee Hutchinson Monday, May 21, 2018, after Ryan Seacrest announces Poppe as the winner during the "American Idol" finale in Los Angeles. Hutchinson announced the two were dating live during the show.
Mitch Haaseth, ABC